The large civil parish of Skelton includes the villages and hamlets of Ellonby, Lamonby, Unthank, Unthank End, Skelton Wood End, Laithes, Hutton End, Hutton Row, Braithwaite, Ivegill and Middlescueth.

There are over 400 households in the area with over a 1000 inhabitants in total. Full details of Skelton Parish obtained from the 2001 can census can be found here on page 58 of the Eden Parish Information pdf file(1.1mb).

Skelton village has a primary school, hall, shop, post office, pub, B&B accommodation and Anglican and Methodist churches

Close to the village is the Skelton transmitter station and the stately home of Hutton-in-the-Forest the family home of Lord Inglewood.

Skelton Agricultural Show is one of the largest in Cumbria and takes place on the first Saturday in July at Hutton-in-the-Forest.

In 1934 the parish absorbed the former civil parishes of Hutton-in-the-Forest and Middlesceuch & Braithwaite plus part of Dalston parish.

Hutton-in-the-Forest Parish included New Rent, Hutton End and Hutton Row and was bordered on the east by Hesket-in-the-Forest. "Forest" refers to the ancient royal hunting ground of Inglewood Forest which included all of the present day Skelton civil parish.